Sankalpa - The Words Resonating With Life

Desires are very important to human beings.
They are the motivational force that make us move forward.
When desires are shining in our hearts - we have straight posture, like a flower rising on a long steam - we hold the head up, growing toward the light.
Desires liberate - flexibility and spaciousness are felt when heart is open.

Sankalpa is the Yoga formulation of this opening energy that lead one toward the positive manifestation of desires.

In a way Sankalpa is commonly know in New Age philosophy, as "affirmations" or repetitive wording that resolve ones negative blockage. Affirmations are best example why Jesus instructed follower to have faith, to ask without doubting. Their transforming power was reveled by Buddha, in the story about the hat caught in the bush - what ever one believes it will be manifested.

Yoga distinguished the difference between Sankalpa and Vasana.

Sankalpa desires are expression of ones intimacy with nurturing power of Universe (Brahman).

Those desires are not born out of need for something, but out of motivation to experience expansion. Such desires are spiritual guidance whispering trough energy of emotions. The spiritual excitement when one's heart is open is the light that safely leads one trough meaningful turns of life path. Realizing one's Sankalpa is to find the reason to keep heart always open, joyfull, shining trough out the life. One who find this is also able to find the true spiritual identity.

On contrary, Vasana is the never fulfilled agony of always wanting heart. This is not new to anyone who heard the simple, down to point saying: be careful what you wish for.

Vasana is expression of always negative, speculating Ego, escapism into immature response: if I have this, I would not have this problem. Even fulfillment of such desires is disappointing experience. Soon, you will not have this problem, but you have new one tapping you on forehead.

Sankalpa is also very logical method to express the energy of inspiring desires trough repetition of chosen words, in a way its one's personal mantra.

The repetition is tantric element, in a light of Yoga it is understood as process of repeating one statement till subconscious mind feels no need to doubt.

When creating Sankalpa choose the most loving desires and words appropriate for spiritual meeting with Lord Brahma, the Supreme Consciousness.

The Universe always respond affirmatively to all your thoughts and words, so you too chose to say yes with words of your Sankalpa, no matter how the situation look to rational mind.

The egoistic Vasana desires want to be fulfilled regardless to happiness of others. Sankalpa desires want to share the good and joy with everyone, they make your heart swell with love and bring the tears of joy in your eyes. Their fulfillment showers the blessings to others as well to self.

Over the time, the words may not be needed. For example I have Sankalpa for my son that is visual in expression. When I repeat Sankalpa in morning I visualize the whole town where he lives. From distance I see the green hills surrounding the city, and peaceful river reflecting the golden shine of rising sun. I visualize the blessings rising with the sun, calling every soul to raise with it, showering divine protection and love to all. I see my son opening the windows on 11th floor or his apartment, breading deeply the goodness of life. Prana - the life force merge with his breath and with many others who open the eyes greeting the sacred day God have made. When I repeat the Sankalpa in evening, I see the town's light in a distance, surrounded with tiny paths winding trough fields, the Mon and stars grace the night. My son responding to blessings of sacred night, lays in his bed in peace, with satisfied heart, protected and loved by divine energy. There are no more words I could repeated - I open to experience of happiness that all is fine back home, righter than making list of my desires for him, as if I would wrote the list to Santa.

The Guru Swami Paramahamsa Satyananda the founder of Bihar Yoga School, explaind the best - what is Sankalpa, and finding it - where does lead human life.

THE SANKALPA OF SWAMI PARAMAHANSA SATYANANDA

"I am an invisible child of a thousand faces of love, that floats over the swirling sea of life, surrounded by the meadows of the winged shepherds, where stillness of midnight summer's warmth pervades. Strength lies in the magnification of the secret qualities of my own personality, my own character, and though I am only a messenger, I am me.

Let me decorate many hearts and paint a thousand faces with colours of inspiration and soft silent sounds of value. Let me be like a child, and run barefoot through the forest of laughing and crying people, giving flowers of imagination and wonder, that God gives free.

Shall I fall on bended knees and wait for someone to bless me with happiness and a life of golden dreams? No. I shall run into the desert of life with my arms open, sometimes falling, sometimes stumbling, but always picking myself up, a thousand times if necessary. Often life will burn me; often life will caress me tenderly. Many of my days shall be haunted by complications and obstacles, and there will be moments so beautiful my soul shall weep in ecstasy.

I shall be a witness, but never shall I run or turn from life, from me. Never shall I forsake myself or the timeless lessons I have taught myself, nor shall I let the value of divine inspiration and being be lost. My rainbow covered bubble shall carry me further than beyond the horizon's settings, forever to serve, to love, and to live as a sannyasin."